US reluctant to extradite corrupt officials, Chinese foreign ministry claims
Operation to track down corrupt officials overseas hampered by lack of extradition treaties with nations like the US and Canada
Investigators’ efforts to catch corrupt officials who have fled overseas are being hampered by Western countries’ reluctance to sign extradition treaties with China, a foreign ministry official said on Wednesday.
Xu Hong, director general of the ministry’s Department of Treaty and Law, said many corrupt officials had fled to countries such as the United States and Canada, but few had been returned to face trial because of the lack of extradition agreements.
The legal authorities had been forced to consider alternatives, such as using immigration laws in foreign countries to have fugitives deported as illegal immigrants.
They have also looked at whether civil legal action could be taken to sue former officials living overseas, or pressing courts abroad to start criminal proceedings, he said.
“We have actually talked to the United States, saying that in view of the increasing exchanges and cooperation between China and the US, should we consider signing an extradition treaty?” Xu said. “However, it looks as though the US is not ready to do that yet.”
The mainland has been intensifying its efforts to bring to justice corrupt former officials who have fled abroad as part of Beijing’s massive anti-corruption campaign. Mainland media has criticised Western countries, saying they are providing safe havens for corrupt cadres.